memory - multi-store model of memory and the working model of memory Flashcards
what are the 3 key features we use to describe memory and what does each mean?
- coding -> the format the memory is in e.g. visual acoustic
- capacity -> how much storage space available
- Duration -> how long information lasts in the memory
what 3 assumptions does the multi-store model of memory make about memory?
- there are 3 separate stores: sensory register, short term memory and long erm memory
- stores are unitary (cannot be divided)
- information is transferred through rehearsal
can you describe the sensory register in terms of capacity, duration and coding?
capacity - large but most is forgotten
duration - no longer than three seconds
coding- iconic store - visual or echoic store - auditory
can you describe the short term memory in terms of capacity, duration and coding?
capacity - 5-9 items
duration - 18-30 seconds
coding - acoustically ( words that sound similar)
can you describe the long term memory in terms of capacity, duration and coding?
capacity- unlimited
duration- can last a lifetime
coding - semantically (words that mean the same)
what research has been done to show that memory does have separate stores?
case study of HM - underwent brain surgery t remove hippocampus to control epilepsy. Could no longer produce long term memories but short term was unaffected
what research has been done into the sensory register?
SPERLING - used a tachiscope which showed 12 symbols for 1/20th of a second.
what was the findings of spellings research into the sensory register?
100% for many, although if recall was delayed by a couple of seconds recall was much poorer.
what conclusion can you make about sperling’s research into the sensory register?
capacity of sensory register is large but the duration is less than one second.
what research has been done for the duration of the short term memory?
The BROWN - PETERSON technique - pps asked to recall nonsense trigrams although to prevent rehearsal pps had to count backwards and in intervals of three seconds.
what was the findings of the brown-peterson technique?
3 second interval - 80% of trigrams recalled
9 second interval - 30 % of trigrams recalled
18 second interval - 10 % of trigrams recalled
what conclusion can you make about the brown-peterson technique?
some people can retain items for up to 30 seconds - maximum duration of STM.
what research has been done for the capacity of the short term memory?
JACOBS- lists of digits or letters were presented to pps at half second intervals. Pps had to repeat list which increased one at a time until pps could no longer recall;;
what were the findings of Jacobs research?
pps digit span was 5 - 9 items
what research has been done for the coding of the short term memory?
CONRAD - pps shown letter sequences which were either acoustically similar or dissimilar
what were the findings of Conrad’s research?
pps found it harder to recall acoustically similar sounding sequences than dissimilar - STM uses an acoustic code
